It was a good thing they knew generous people, Ban thought - everyone else at this festival was dressed for the occasion. Though he had nothing proper, he had borrowed something of Paul's, and Ginji had borrowed something from Kazuki. (Jubei's, actually - Ginji would have looked weird in the pink thing Kazuki had.)

   But Ginji had no head for budgeting, and already had spent the meager funds Ban had allotted for their festivities. Even so, he was laughing and pointing at another booth. "Ban-chan, Ban-chan!" he called. "Look, goldfish! If you catch one, you get to keep it!"

   "Yeah, but you have to pay first," Ban pointed out with a sigh. "We've spent enough anyway."

   "But you still have money, don't you?" Ginji asked. "We just got paid..."

   "We have to use that to buy food," Ban reminded him. "And Paul's gonna kick us out again if we don't-"

   "Only fifty yen!" Ginji protested. "We can spare that..." He looked at Ban seriously. "Ban-chan? Can you catch me a goldfish?"

   Ban stared, though he was trying to look away - looking at those big brown eyes usually wasn't a good idea. It made him do stupid things. "Ginji, that's a game for little kids! And where are we going to put a damn goldfish?" he snapped. "We live in a car!"

   "We could get a little bowl, with a lid so it wouldn't spill while we were driving," Ginji suggested.

   "With what money?"

   "With the money we just got!" Ginji's eyes got even bigger. "Pleeeease, Ban-chan...?"

   Ban hesitated, then cursed under his breath as he handed over the fifty yen. Oblivious to the glare Ban was shooting at everyone and everything, Ginji cheered. "Yaaay, Ban-chan's catching me a goldfish..."

   Taking the little paper net, Ban grumbled and knelt down by the pond. "Fish food's coming out of your food money, you know."

   "I don't mind, a little fish can't eat that much," Ginji said cheerfully. "Thanks, Ban-chan! Can you try for that one there?" Immediately, the fish Ginji had indicated wiggled into the midst of a bunch of other goldfish. "Come back here, you little bastard!" Ban growled, much to the dismay of a few mothers and children waiting in line.

   After a small struggle, Ban gave up in annoyance as the paper net broke. "Well, too bad..."

   Ginji gave him a look that was almost a pout. "Try again...?"

   He'd spent five hundred yen with no luck, when he sensed a presence that made him bare his teeth and look up. "Are you having bad luck with the fish?" Akabane was dressed for the occasion in a kimono - all black, of course - and somehow it made the hat look all that much scarier.

   Seeing that he'd correctly interpreted the situation, Akabane knelt beside Ban. "Don't worry - I'll catch you one, Ginji-kun..."

   "Th-that's okay," Ginji stammered, grabbing Ban's arm and pulling him away quickly. "Ban-chan was right... where would we put a goldfish...?"